Once again, Chapter 7 (actually 6) -9 of Genesis describes another episode of men's sin, God's intolerance of men's sin, and God's mercy, and finally God's first covenant with men. Because of the violence in the world, God was "grieved" and His heart was filled with pain. He actually regretted that He created men - and so he decided to wipe out humankind, except Noah who was righteous in God's eyes. (Perhaps some think that God was cruel in destroying the mankind, but it's not unlike the extreme sadness/grief/anger that parents feel if their children run around and commit really really bad sin. The creation of their flesh!! They must be so very very torn!)
Anyways, Noah did exactly what God asked him to do in terms of making the ark, and as promised by God the flood (40 days & 40 nights) came, and only Noah and his family were saved. The future generation of mankind were to come from this family of 8! It took over a year for the water to recede and Noah (and his family) came out of the ark. Noah built the first altar and gave the first thanksgiving burnt offering. God then made the first covenant with Noah - that He will never again destroy life on such a great scale like the flood no matter what would happen, even though God still acknowledged that "every inclination" of human heart is to do evil. This is also where the reference of rainbow as a sign of God's covenant came from... So whenever you see a rainbow, think of God's covenant and His mercy!
The end of Chapter 9 described Noah getting drunk and "laying uncovered inside his tent", and the difference in his children's reaction. One did nothing but to tell his brothers; the other 2 covered Noah with garment without looking at the nakedness. I don't quite understand the seriousness of this - I suppose this is just to say that even though Noah was a righteous man in God's eyes, he too made a mistake and was not disciplined/practising self-control?
This reminds me of our bible studies about the old testament a few years ago. Basically in the OT we see God starting over and over again with creation. We see several of these in Genesis. Creation 1.0 is Adam. This first "creation" fails with the fall when Adam & Eve taste the fruit. They are banished. Creation 2.0 is Noah. God thinks that mankind is so evil that He wipes out the earth and starts over with Noah and his family. Then, the Babel scene occurs. Here, mankind is trying to become as great as God, and therefore God scatters them. Creation 3.0 is Abraham. This time, instead of wiping out all of mankind, God decides to have "his people" be one particular people group - not the whole earth. So, Abraham's descendants are meant to be the third "try" in creation, this time just through the Israelites. This happens via a covenant between God and Abraham. Abraham believed, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes - on one hand it's so true (that God starting over again, which highlights His mercy, on the other hand it's so sad. Why does sin have to be such a "natural" part of us?
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